The Road Car

In this case the car IS the road and called the "road car" brought to you by Brian in Michigan. The paint is that spray stone texture with some added black splatters. The double yellow lines are custom mixed house paint so that it peels and flakes with age JUST LIKE REAL ROAD LINES. By the way it shoots blood from the windshield wiper sprayers.

Close up of the "road car" texture. This is after a test spraying from the windshield wiper "blood" while going 60mph. The rain helped it flow better and wash off easily.

Call of the Syren - Goth 72 Cadilac by Christa Ansbergs

Syren Art Car at Art Car Fest - Photo by Bagel

Christa Ansbergs is the creator of a 72 Cadillac called Syren and is a regular participant at Art Car Fest where I met her. She loves the "goth" look and the darker side of life so she drives an art car to match.

When she went looking for the right car she considered buying a used hearse, but found that they were to expensive and a pain to maintain because parts were harder to come by. So she settled for a 1972 Cadillac DeVille and got going with her art car creation. She has painted flowers on the side, appropriate goth bumper stickers all over the trunk, rope arrangement across the hood, and spray painted lace pattern the roof with a chain fence. If you look closely syren has fangs in her grill, so  make sure not stand to close.

I also found a great picture of her at Maker Faire a few years back wearing a skirt she made from bike inner tubes, rolled up in the shape of a skirt and sown together to complete her goth outfit:) Sorry it took so long to put you up on ACC, but here you are, finally:) 

Syren Art Car at Art Car Fest - Photo by Bagel

Christa Ansbergs at Maker Faire

MFP Mad Max Lemon Art Car In Hot Pursuit

Today's StreetSafari car was prepared for our US event, BABE Rally (Big Apple 2 Big Easy).

Instead of the European limit of £150-£250, the US event has a limit of $500. In 2009 when these pictures were taken the price had been increased from $250 to $500 in fact. Apparently $250 were getting hard to come by what with scrap prices getting higher.

With a doubling of the allowable car price, something quite impressive happened - the car actually got worse. You see, people were now unleashed and could buy whatever car they had dreamed of. And yes, people do dream of buying some of the mankiest car's imaginable.

For whatever reason, this team bought this wreck, and then had the bright idea to give a Mad Max theme to the car. From a distance this car looks brilliant, from close up, not quite so brilliant. The team were even busted by the neighborhood agency for spraying this car in their front yard.

After driving the car across the 1,500 of some great US roads the event ended in a Louisiana drag strip. Here, deep in the south where the mosquitos are big enough to drag you away, we set about "racing" the $500 against each other.

You've heard of the story about the hare and the tortoise? This was more like two tortoises. So imagine the commentator with a deep southern drawl explaining to the crowds why on earth these crap heaps were on his track, and you will have captured a very special moment.

By Justin Clements Street Safari

Break Time

Drag Race Time

More Break Time

Hot Pursuit Time

Egyptian Rustic Art Cars

The Egyptian protesters in their quest for freedom have developed a rather unique form of art car creation. All that is needed, is an angry mob, gasoline, a lighter and a parked car. The angry mob picks a car at random, dosed it in gasoline and then sets it on fire. The process takes about an hour and after everything flammable is consumed a very unique and beautiful texture emerges on the car. The car is no longer operable but that is no concern to the protesters. What matters is that the car now has a rustic, old-world feel that hearkens back to a time when angry mobs were all the rage.

Steelers Fan Paints his Mercedes in time for Super Bowl

Martin Reese's 1983 Mercedes-Benz is decorated with a Pittsburgh Steelers logo and portraits of several players. Reese, of Daytona Beach, transformed his car into a Steelers memorial for the upcoming Super Bowl.

Martin Reese wanted to show his love for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But instead of buying a T-shirt, Reese, 27, of Daytona Beach spent 90 hours transforming his 1983 Mercedes-Benz into a Steelers memorial. He hand-painted it black and gold, splashed the Steelers logo across the hood and added safety Troy Polamalu's long, flowing hair on the trunk.

"I've been a die-hard Steelers fan since I was in elementary school," Reese said.

And now, as the team prepares for Sunday's Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers, Reese is on the road, headed to the game and spreading Steelers spirit along the way.

Wednesday afternoon, Reese took off for Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the site of the game, in the car he dubbed, "The Immaculate Mercedes," a reference to the Steelers' 1972 Immaculate Reception, one of the most famous plays in football history.
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Reese doesn't have a ticket to the Super Bowl, but he expects "Steeler nation to accept me with open arms."

An art teacher at Pine Ridge High School in Deltona, Reese began transforming his car into a moving piece of art three weeks ago. At that point, the Steelers were still in the playoffs.

"I had faith they would beat the Jets and go on to the Super Bowl," Reese said. He finished earlier this week.

Since then, he has been driving the car to work, much to the enjoyment of his fellow Steelers fans.

He also got some grief from Packers fans, who reminded him that their team is favored to win.

"They appreciated the artwork," Reese said.

Article By Jon Busdeker, Orlando Sentinel

The Art of Heavy Car Lifting - Phil Pfister at 2009 World's Strongest Man Competition

One way to save on gas is to simply pick up the car and move it yourself. That is what Phil Pfister is doing here at the 2009 World's Strongest Man Competition in Malta. You can see that vain in his head from space.

Officially Unveiled: Kia Forte

After a series of teaser pictures, Kia released today the first official pictures of its new Forte sedan. Spectra's successor's appearance is close to the Kia KOUP concept.

The Forte sedan is the first production model to carry Kia’s new corporate look, which includes some new design elements like the new corporate grille and striking side lines. The H-shapped grille is set to become a Kia trademark in the future.

Kia will introduce the Forte with two gasoline engines. When the car hits Korean showrooms in August, it will be available only with the new 1.6L four cylinder rated at 124hp. A more powerful 2.0L engine, will be available soon after the official launch.

Gallery: Kia Forte Sedan






(Thanks to Kia-World for the tip.)

Officially Unveiled: Kia Forte

After a series of teaser pictures, Kia released today the first official pictures of its new Forte sedan. Spectra's successor's appearance is close to the Kia KOUP concept.

The Forte sedan is the first production model to carry Kia’s new corporate look, which includes some new design elements like the new corporate grille and striking side lines. The H-shapped grille is set to become a Kia trademark in the future.

Kia will introduce the Forte with two gasoline engines. When the car hits Korean showrooms in August, it will be available only with the new 1.6L four cylinder rated at 124hp. A more powerful 2.0L engine, will be available soon after the official launch.

Gallery: Kia Forte Sedan






(Thanks to Kia-World for the tip.)

Seat Confirms New Sedan Will Be Called Exeo

We've reported before that Seat will be launching a new D-segment model in 2009 that will sit alongside the Toledo and based on the old Audi A4.

Today Seat confirmed in an announcement that the new model will be named Exeo. The new model will be available as both a sedan and as a family version.

The name follows the brand's Mediterranean roots, it comes from the Latin word "Exire" which means “to go beyond” or “to go further”. It differs from the names of the other models in the Seat range but signals a new direction for the automaker.

The new D segment model will be manufactured at the Martorell plant with next year's Geneva Motor Show a likely debut.

Seat Confirms New Sedan Will Be Called Exeo

We've reported before that Seat will be launching a new D-segment model in 2009 that will sit alongside the Toledo and based on the old Audi A4.

Today Seat confirmed in an announcement that the new model will be named Exeo. The new model will be available as both a sedan and as a family version.

The name follows the brand's Mediterranean roots, it comes from the Latin word "Exire" which means “to go beyond” or “to go further”. It differs from the names of the other models in the Seat range but signals a new direction for the automaker.

The new D segment model will be manufactured at the Martorell plant with next year's Geneva Motor Show a likely debut.